San Joaquin County Biographies


This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm



ALFRED GWYNNE WATKINS.
 
        One of the esteemed and helpful citizens of Bellota is Alfred Gwynne 
Watkins, a prominent rancher and cattleman, well known throughout the county as 
an authority on stock. He has assisted in building schools and churches, and 
contributed to every project for the upbuilding of the community. He was born on 
his father's ranch at Bellota, August 1, 1885, the youngest child of the late 
Craddock Gwynne and Hannah (Young) Watkins, both born in England. Craddock G. 
Watkins and his wife came to America from England in early days and settled near 
Bellota where they engaged in farming, the old homestead now being operated by 
James G. Watkins, a brother of our subject. Mrs. Watkins resides at 519 West 
Vine Street, Stockton. Alfred G. Watkins attended the Bellota and Linden schools 
and this section has been his home his entire lifetime. While still in his teens 
he took up the carpenter's trade, which he followed for a while, and at all 
times was interested with his father in the stock business.
        The marriage of Mr. Watkins occurred at San Francisco August 18, 1908, 
and united him with Miss Ruby A. Bliss, born at Stockton, a daughter of William 
D. and Nellie (Youngs) Bliss, the former now deceased, while the latter makes 
her home with her daughter, Mrs. Watkins. Mrs. Watkins spent her childhood days 
in Stockton and graduated from the Stockton high school in 1899 and for some 
years engaged in teaching. Four children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. 
Watkins; Kenneth G., William C., Teddy B., and Alice Marie. In 1914, Mr. Watkins 
purchased 160 acres, known as the W. A. Shippee place, and about one year ago he 
purchased an additional seventy acres, making a total of 230 acres on which he 
raises stock and grain; he also leases a tract of range land near Waverly 
Station where a fine herd of beef cattle range. In politics, Mr. Watkins is a 
Republican and is a director of the Linden Union high school since its 
reorganization in 1921; for some years he was a director of the Bellota district 
school. Recently he has completed a fine residence on his ranch, which makes it 
one of the show places of this section of the county.
 
History of San Joaquin County, California � Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 
1923
p     596
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.